Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
Weeks had passed since Andrew first proposed. Jayd received flowers every week from him but they didn’t cheer her up. One day during work, as she stared into the screen until the picture turned blurry, she received a knock at the door “Come in.” she adjusted her files and looked up with a smile “Hey.”
“Hi.” Lisa smiled “Are you busy?”
“No. Just trying to look busy but I’m failing pretty badly. What’s up?” she sighed.
“Biu Gor says you’ve been out of it lately. Are you too stressed out because of the wedding?” she asked thoughtfully.
Jayd shook her head “Not really.” She noticed Lisa’s sympathetic expression “I’m fine. Don’t worry. I’m not the type of person to back out at the last minute.”
“But you love him?” Lisa asked.
She closed her eyes with frustration “If one more person asks me that question, I’m going to shoot myself!”
Laughing, she felt bad for the girl at the same time “Maybe you should take that as a hint?”
“Do you knoe what frustrates me more?” Jayd tilted her head. Lisa shook her head “Why suddenly everyone thinks that they know me more than I do. First my mom gives me the third degree and then Andrew asked me that the other day…then Steve decides to ignore me all together.”
“He’s ignoring you?” Lisa asked with a frown “Why?”
Jayd turned to the girl strangely. How could she not know? He’s been spending all the time with her. She began to open her mouth when her office door sprung open appearing Steve “Here’s the file you asked for, Miss Lee.” He placed the file on her desk.
“Hi you.” Lisa waved brightly.
“Hi.” He smiled nervously.
“Long time no see.” She added.
Jayd raised her brows curiously “Really? You guys just had dinner last night.”
Steve laughed “Yeah, she really does have short term memory.” He patted Lisa on the head roughly as she winced “Did you forget we’re having lunch today?”
Lisa narrowed her eyes up but when she turned to Jayd, she smiled “Yeah, we are. Now I remember.” She nodded.
Jayd smelled something fishy but they weren’t ready to be exposed “Thanks for the file.” She nodded at Steve.
“Look at the time, it’s almost lunch time. We should get going.” Steve pulled Lisa by the hand to her feet.
“But I wasn’t fini—”
“We have reservations at 12.” Steve cut in. Nodding slightly to Jayd, he excused himself “Sorry, we’ll chat some other time.”
Lisa sighed “Actually, I wanted to—” before she completed her thoughts, Steve dragged her out of the office and towards the elevators “Excuse you!” she broke away “As much as I dreamt about the day you’d be holding my hand but I didn’t think it would be running away from a lie.”
“Shh!” he hushed and practically pushed her into the empty elevator.
She held onto the side bars to steady herself. Turning to him coolly, she crossed her arms “Hmm…I guess there is a reason for a LIAR to be afraid.” She emphasized.
“I know…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to use your name. But I don’t want to give her false hope.” Steve sighed as they exited the elevator.
She frowned strangely “False hope? Maybe you’re forgetting but Jayd is engaged to Andrew. What would it have to do with you?”
He sighed again “I have a feeling she’s waiting for me to confess my love for her and take her away. Far away from here so she wouldn’t have to face Andrew.”
“Hey, no one told me we were living in the 1800’s.” Lisa laughed, “Don’t be ridiculous, it’s the 21st century. Two people should have every right to fall in love and let it be known. If the feeling is mutual, it’s only fair that she knows.” She turned to the side when he had halted. Walking back to him, she pushed his face up with his chin “So is the feeling mutual?”
“I’m afraid to say.” Steve replied honestly.
Lisa sighed as she linked her arm through his and led him away “So you think running away will help everything?”
“Well, maybe not everything. But it will control my feelings for her and maybe hers will eventually die out?” Steve knew it was childish of him to think that but he was at a standstill. He didn’t want to be the bad guy that steals a girl from another.
“Is that why you’re ignoring her?” Lisa exclaimed. He nodded guiltily “Oh Steve…what a tangle web you weaved…” shaking her head “That only makes her feelings linger with you more. I suggest that you treat her the same as you always had. Platonic friends.”
“I can’t, we’re not the same anymore.” Steve insisted.
“You’re worried about that kiss?” she guessed.
“The kiss, the feelings, it’s too hard to control. I can’t be myself around her. All I could do is be an ass so she can easier forget about me.” He sighed “I…I just can’t do this anymore.”
Lisa knew he was in a tough position “What are you going to do?”
“Quit.” He said shortly and continued on his way.
****************
After lunch, Jayd walked out from the kitchen after eating her leftovers from dinner, she noticed Steve had collected his belongings in a box. Walking over, she asked “Are they moving you?”
Shaking his head, he answered without looking at her in the eye “No.”
“They fired you?” Jayd asked.
“Does it matter?” he continued to fill up the box.
Jayd felt angry as she grumbled “I can’t believe him.” Stomping her way to Andrew’s office. Steve looked up and suddenly his eyes widened. Rushing after her, he tried calling but she wasn’t listening. Storming into his office, she ignored the looks the other managers gave her “Why did you fire him?”
“Jayd!” Steve caught her too late as he pulled her into the hallway “I’m sorry gentlemen.” He closed the door and turned to her “He didn’t fire me. I quit.”
“You what?” she felt her face burning up “Oh my God…Andrew.” She turned to his door “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!” she pushed at him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you would confront him.” Steve hissed “I quit because… because I don’t like the job anymore.” He made up.
Jayd sighed “You can be honest, if it’s because of me, just say it.”
“No, it’s not you.” He insisted “I just want a new career.” He smiled “I wish you the best here. And with Andrew.”
“Not after that outburst.” Jayd snickered “I’m going to get it.”
“I’ll help explain. I’ll just tell him the truth.” He said simply.
She looked at him “What? That it was all a misunderstanding? That I assumed he fired you without finding the truth of the matter? How will that look? You tell me.” She painted the picture well and he was stumped.
“I’m sorry.” He apologized.
Jayd turned away as she headed back to her office. He followed her inside “I thought you were in a rush to get away from me?” she spat harshly.
“I’m really sorry.” He said sincerely.
She softened at his genuine expression “I know you are. I don’t blame you for this. It’s just my own stupidity and jumping to conclusions. I should be the one to apologize.” She felt a sneeze coming as she covered her mouth.
“Look at you. I knew you were getting sick when I heard you coughing this morning. Wear a jacket when you’re indoors.” He scolded while reaching for her box of tissues to give to her “It may be hot outside but our air conditioning is kept at 60 degrees.”
She took the tissue from his hands with a smile “Thanks. Do you remember the last time I was sick?”
A smile sprung to his face “Yeah! And you wanted to go to the mall eventhough your eyes were droopy and your nose was red.” He laughed with a shaking head.
Jayd looked up earnestly “Promise me this won’t change. I don’t want you to act any different around me. Please, you’re my best friend. I can’t stand us like this.”
His heart came out to her as he realized how hard it was for her to see him so cold in the past few weeks “I’m sorry.” He said sincerely “I’ve been a real jerk.” Pulling a strand of hair out of place from her forehead “I just thought if I could get you to hate me, we would both be in a better position.”
“I could never hate you.” Jayd was near tears at the thought of what he did to help her.
“Aw, come on. Don’t be modest. You probably hated me when you caught me calling you the killer shark with the other employees the other day.” He joked.
“Killer shark…it fits.” She laughed.
Suddenly, there was a short knock and Andrew entered without her consent “Steve, I want to talk to my fiancé for a minute.”
“Sure.” Steve turned to Jayd, who looked away.
“Clean out your desk, I asked for security to take you out.” Andrew advised when he reached the exit. Looking up at Jayd, he sighed “That was absolutely--”
“Unacceptable.” Jayd finished “I know. I was out of line and I shouldn’t have walked into your meeting that way. I’m sorry. I assumed things and let it get out of hand.” She reached for his hands “I won’t let it happen again.” She nodded her head to the side “Actually, it can’t…cause he’s leaving.”
Andrew smiled “Actually, I was going to say…that it was absolutely great timing.” She looked up oddly “That meeting was putting me to sleep. When you stormed in, I acted like I was bothered and they wrapped up in five minutes. The meeting was over and they let me decide.” He hugged her happily “You are such a life saver!”
She wasn’t sure what to say “Glad I could help?”
“I have a surprise for you.” He kissed her hands with a secret smile.
“What?” she looked curious.
“Your dress is ready. Just one more fitting and we have it. Don’t forget, we have an appointment at the studio to take pictures next Saturday.” He reminded her “I can’t pick you up but Keung Gor will come with the Lincoln.” She nodded and fell into an embrace “It’s happening.” He sighed.
“Yeah…it is.” Jayd sighed internally "You're not mad though?"
He pulled away "No, why should I be? You should be the one upset, I mean I promised to come pick you up--"
"Not that." she interrupted "About Steve. How I stood up for him."
"No, he's your friend. It's only natural you want to protect him." Andrew said understandingly "Afterall, if he was my friend and was fired, I'd jump to conclusions too." She smiled as he kissed her on the cheek and hurried back to his office "I've got a lot of things to do. But I'll go pick you up later." he promised.